Husband, 'spiritual healer' held for woman's murder

The mystery surrounding the discovery of a woman's body in a rainwater drain in the jurisdiction of Rawat Police Station has been solved, with the victim's husband and a self-proclaimed spiritual healer revealed as the culprits, according to a spokesperson for Rawalpindi police on Friday.

The deceased, Qudsia Batool, was a private school teacher who had ongoing domestic disputes with her husband, Amin. He had frequently taken her to a so-called conjurer named Israr, who exploited her by demanding money and jewellery in the name of fake spiritual rituals.

When Qudsia later asked for her money and valuables to be returned, Amin and Israr allegedly conspired to murder her. Amin lured her out of the house under the false pretence of a medical operation.

He then took her to a drain where, with the help of Israr, he strangled her to death. The two men subsequently buried her body at the scene. The body was discovered on March 5 and later identified by the victim's children.

In a bid to cover up the crime, Amin had previously lodged a fake kidnapping report on December 8, 2024, claiming that his wife had gone missing.

Following a thorough investigation, Rawat police arrested both suspects, who are now in custody. The police spokesperson praised the team for their professional handling of the case.